Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-07
The Report Of the National Legislative
Committee Of the knights of LabOr.

SHARP CRITICISM OF CONGR EsS.
The Report Of the National Legislative
Committee Of the knights of Labor.
The national legislative committee of the nights
OF Labor have submitted TO the general executive
board report OF their labors during the short se-
sion OF the Forty-ninth Congress. IL is a long
document, describing at length the measures that
had the support OF the committee during the ses-
sion, and crticising sharply the failure OF Con-
the House committee on labor
The letter-carrerS' eight-hour bill, SAYS the re-
port, was antagonized by Mr.: Springer In favor "
Dill Known as the trade-dollar ulll-a bill IN the
interest or Specuators The lctter-carriers' bill
would put into the pockets OF the letter-carriers
In the shape of reduced hours OF labor the Post
Onlce Department claimed, g.. 2J0. ooo The pas
sage OF the trade-dollar bill actually put into the
pockets OF spectators s400o.oO0. every dollar ~
which was nlched from the pockets OF the poor by
the law that demonetized n. That steal was ably
seconded ~ systematic boycott on the part of
the banking fraternity OF the country, which now,
by the enactment of the present law, received
their reward by getting 100 cents on the dollar for
what they only paid 80 cents.
As TO the oklahoma bill. the committee Is OF
the opinion that IL the measure had been allowed
10 come 10 a vote IL would have had a good ma
1ority In the House. but under the present method
OF legislation the members We're deprived OF a
chance TO express their preferences.
THE BLAIR EDUCATIONAL BHI-AN ALLEGED PACKED
COMMITTEE.
The report gives account OF the many at
teupto lldut Ds Representative NllllS 10 get the
Blair educational bill before the House. and cor-
tinues: 'Mr. Willis introduced a resolution TO IT.
leve the committee on education from further con-
slderatlon OF the Dill by privileged question TO
amend.the rules OF the House, but he was ruled
out OF order by speaker pro tetapore, Mr. Springer
and in an underhanded manner. In the opinion IL
the committee. Mr.. Willis withdraws his motion,
with the remark that he would renew it when the
regular speaker was I'm the chair. which he did on
the l4th, only TO be antagonized by Mr.. Springer
with points OF order. Mr. Willis then circulated q
petition, and secured one hundred and twenty
names, and might have secured a great many
more, but thought that number sufficient and
presented the same TO the committee on rules,
asking them TO consider proposition to so amend
the rules OF the House that the educational bill
could be considered. The committee rules IL.
nored this petition. IL Is the opinion OF the friends
OF the measure that the committee on education
was packed against the bill by the speaker when
he appointed the committee, which opinion Is
is shared by your committee because OF his actions
later on In refusing TO consider the question In the
committee on rules when requested 60 do so by one
hundred and twenty members OF the House by 10.
tttion."
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW
next received the attention OF the committee, ana
OF it they say: "For the past ten years there has
been introduced into Congress by Representative
Reagan. OF Texas, bill TO regulate Interstate
commerce, and IL became evident TO the railroad
managers OF the country that from the growing
demands OF the people the time had arrived whea
such a measure had TO be passed. Realizing this
fact the railroad interest OF the country about
TO circumyent the Reagan bill, which was
simple plain law, that Was easy OF Interpretation
and was positive I'm It's provisions to protect tha
interest OF the people as against the growing and
grasping power OF the giant corporations OF the
country. They had introduced into the senate %
bill, known as the Cullom BILL that contained
twenty-five sections, and every one OF them adj
hitting OF doubtful construction, so much 50
that no one in either the Senate or the House was
able to interpret it-not even It's godfather, Mr..
Cullom-who, when asked TO explain its provis.
tacitly admitted his inability 10 do so.
The committee, I'm accordance with the NTH plank
of declaration of Drfnciplps summarized
with the least legal technicalities VIZ. the Reagan
BILL and went so far 10 ask the President on be-
bill which had been passed The committee up 10
this date has not seen any arguments on the part
OF their critics that have caused them In any way
to recede from the position that they have assumed
on the question; but, on the contrary, the eyi-
dence is daily coming TO the front a doubtful
OF the law and its consequent fail
ure TO relieve the people OF the evils they have
long complained OF, and expected by the law TO los
relieved OF. Every day strengthens the opinion OK
this committee that the day is not far distant
when the praise OF their constituents and the peo
pie at large Will be bestowed upon them for tho
course they pursued in the matter. and the COM
mittee feel confident that the near future Will
bring them the reward that they are entitled 10.
viz, the acknowledgement that they acted con-
scientiously and honestly la the course they pur.
sued"
THE LAND FORFEITURE MLLs.
The report comments severely upon the failure
OF Congress to pass some OF the important land
forfeiture bills. and says that some very crooked
lawyers In connection with the forfeiture OF some
OF the grants and that In many instances the set
tiers have been duped and defrauded by these
men, who have been posing as their friends, and
In several instances have succeeded In getting
several thousand dollars In notes from the people
City and st. Paul Railroad land-grant bill, the
say: ave are informed that a former
official by the name OF Judge Law.
renee, who is resident or Ohio, has been engaged
by the settlers this grant at fee OF 81 per acre
making sum total OF fee OF SIS, 900, IN case the
succeeded In getting the bill through"
BOYCoTTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON RULES.
In conclusion, the committee say: "As early @
the LIST OF February we were informed that In
order TO secure action on several OF the measures
that the committee were interested ia, and which
have been systematically boycotted by the COM
mittee on rules or the House, we must secure the
consent OF that committee. The special custodians
OF this sacred burial place were Jno @. Carlisle,
the Speaker OF the House, VIM. X. Morrison, and
Samuel j. Randall on the part OF the dominant
party, and Thos. B. Reed and Frank Hiscock, act
Ing for the minority party OF the House. The
former three are masters OF ceremony when IL
comes TO party question. When we found that
In were embalmed in this destined famous place
or tnterment we proceeded TO interview the MEM
berS OF this committee, with view OF resurrecting
some OF the measures at least from this party
catacomb We sought by written request an inter.
view with one OF the members, Mr.. Samuel j. Ran
DALI at his house. In this effort we were success
ful but came away no wiser, and we fear from our
disposition after the Interview, no better men.
subsequently we sougnI ~ an s1ccess nar,
has been no legislation enacted during the last nvo
weeks OF the present session but such as has been
subject to the scrutiny OF the three members OF the
committee on rules from the dominant party,
termed by the members OF the House the steering
,ommfttee), and SO Tar as the members OF the
House were concerned save keeping their seats
W arm) they might as well have gone home four
weeks before adjournment, for they have had viz
tually nothing 70 say as TO what kind OF business
should come up before the body. The speaker of
the House OF Representatives or the Republic was
absolute dictator OF IS. 900 people far any
legislation they desired was concerned during the
last six days OF the present Congress- and the rest
OF che body might Just well have been at home
with their constituents"
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The committee is OF opinion that the next gen
eral assembly should select not more than three
great public measures and proceed 10 educate the
members and the public at large on those ques-
lions, among them q bill TO have the Government
system In connectionwith the post-ofce;
another TO devise means for the Government TO use
It's surplus revenues toward removing the present
debt; the third, an amendment
70 the Constitution that the Senate be elected by
direct vote OF the people. The report Is signed by
Ralph Beaumont, John ]. Mccartney and jams
Campbell,